Road Runners add Niinimaki

By Guy Flaming

November 5th, 2004

Road Runners Add Niinimaki

When Oiler winger Raffi Torres agreed to return to the AHLlast week, it opened the door for speculation as to what other Oiler prospectsfans could possibly see in Edmonton this year.There have been reports that offensive defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeronis in negotiations to follow Torres’ example and sign a minor leaguecontract.However, the biggest news ofthe week is that 2002 first round draft pick Jesse Niinimaki will jointhe Road Runners for the rest of the AHL season.

As first mentioned on Halloween by Robin Brownlee in theEdmonton Sun, the Oilers approached Bill Zito, Niinimaki’s agent, about thechances of the Finnish center skating in Edmonton this year.

Due to the influx of NHL players to the top Europeanleagues, several key Oiler prospects have lost ice time or even roster spots ontheir teams.The CBA issues in NorthAmerica have affected Dragan Umicevic, Jonas Almtorp, KalleOlsson and Fredrik Johansson just to name a few in Swedenalone.In Niinimaki’s case it was IlvesTampere’s acquisition of Atlanta Thrasher center Patrik Stefan that saw his icetime diminish and expedited this move to Edmonton.

Early on Thursday morning the Finnish club issued a statementon its website confirming that Niinimaki had come to terms with Edmonton inorder to play in the American League.It is expected that an official announcement from the Oilers will followby the weekend.

Niinimaki will be in Alberta this weekend and will have togo to Calgary in order to complete his immigration paperwork before he can jointhe Road Runners on their six-game, 14-day road trip.The 21-year-old should be with the club by the time they face offin Houston on October 14th and he could step right in and playwithout having to first practice much with the club.

“He’s in game shape so I think it’s just a matter of (coach)Geoff (Ward) finding where he fits in to play,” said Kevin Prendergast the VPof Hockey Operations of the Oiler organization.“Now that we’ve got the bad news on J.J. Hunter being out of theline up it creates a spot for him, but it’s up to him to come in a show us thathe deserves it.”

Hunter was run from behind on the weekend by Syracusedefender Zenith Komarniski and sustained a badly injured shoulder that earlyreports indicate a possible 2-3 month layoff.Hunter’s misfortune does provide the Road Runners with an opening forNiinimaki although the two pivots play distinctly different games.

While Hunter is proving to be more than the checking forwardhe has been pegged as, Niinimaki is a dynamic offensive player who is expectedto eventually play on one of the top two lines and generate a lot ofpoints.Unfortunately, Mike Bishai andJarret Stoll currently hold down those two positions and aren’t going towillingly step aside for the new kid in town.

“Jesse’s got to come over here and learn the North Americanstyle of game and obviously that is a big change for anybody coming over formEurope being used to the bigger ice surface,” said Prendergast.“(Ward) will find a place for him to play,I’m sure he’ll start on the fourth line and he’ll have to work his way up.The two guys at the top are our toptwo guys so he’ll have to work hard to unseat them.”

Niinimaki is going to have to work even harder off the iceto get into the condition the Oilers expect of him.While summer reports declared the 6’3 forward to be tilting thescales at close to 200 lbs, those reports were completely false.In truth, Niinimaki is still on the lightside of 185 lbs, a full 15 pounds shy of where the club wants him to be beforeconsidering the NHL.

“He’s one of those guys that we’ll have to push hard to gethim to be the player we think he can be but he has the talent to get there,”Prendergast said.“He’s not as big aswe’d like at this time; he’s going to spend a lot of time with DarylDuke.”

Despite his less than imposing physical presence, Niinimakihas a boatload of talent to showcase for Edmonton fans.He’s described as being a gifted playmakerthat uses his vision and soft hands together with his great speed and agilityto create offensive scoring opportunities for himself and his linemates.If there is a concern it will be with hisability to survive initially in the very physical atmosphere of North Americanarenas.

“I don’t know if there’s a physical component to his gameyet, being in the Finnish league the way it is, but he’ll learn that veryquickly,” admitted Prendergast.“He hasthat knack to get out of the way but certainly guys are going to take runs at him.It’s like that in the American League, theyknow you’re a first rounder and they’re going to see what you’re made of.I think he’s got that type of personalitythat he might get hit once but it isn’t going to happen very often because he’sgoing to learn very quickly.”

The basic truth is that this is a key prospect in the Oilersystem and the club couldn’t sit back and watch the talented center regress dueto the NHL’s problems.Coming off alost year because of a destroyed shoulder, Niinimaki cannot afford anythingless than a year where he is getting a lot of ice time and is being challengedon the ice.

Fans have every right to get just as excited aboutNiinimaki’s arrival as they are about goalie Jeff Drouin-Deslauriers joiningthe squad this year.Both are near thetop of the team’s prospect depth chart, but don’t expect that that will mean afree ride once Niinimaki pulls on a ‘Runners sweater.

“He’s a first rounder and we went out on a limb to take himand we feel he has a lot of upside but as far as getting preferential treatmentbecause he’s a first rounder, that isn’t going to happen.”Prendergast warned.“He’s going to have to unseat the guysplaying ahead of him and that’s a coaching decision for Geoff Ward.”

“We’re going to look at him and bring him along at ourpace now.He’s got a road ahead of him;this isn’t going to be easy.He’splayed at an elite level in Europe so it’s not as though he’s coming down alevel but it is a different style of play.”

Edmonton fans will have to wait until Sunday November 21stto get their first glimpse of Niinimaki in Road Runner silks.That is the first day back for the club andthey will host the St. John’s Maple Leafs in what is scheduled as an afternoontilt at Rexall Place.